If your reference point for luxury train travel is the Orient Express or the Rocky Mountaineer, Chinese luxury trains will feel both familiar and surprisingly different. The fundamentals are the same, private suites, fine dining, white-glove service, but the execution reflects a distinct sensibility. Here is what you can expect.
Chinese luxury train suites are consistently larger than their European counterparts. While a Venice Simplon-Orient-Express cabin averages 7-8 square metres, suites on the New Orient Express start at 12 square metres, and the Panda Express Chengdu stretches to 16 square metres for its top category. Every suite across our fleet has a private en-suite bathroom, a feature notably absent from the classic Orient Express cabins, where facilities are shared.
Suite configurations typically come in three tiers:
Beds are firm, Chinese hotel standard, not American plush, but dressed in high-thread-count linen with nightly turndown. If you prefer a softer mattress, we can arrange a topper. Just ask.
Onboard dining is arguably where Chinese trains most decisively outperform their Western peers. Meals are prepared fresh in the galley kitchen, not reheated from pre-packaged trays. Menus are multi-course, shift regionally as the landscape changes, and accommodate every dietary requirement we are notified of in advance.
What to expect:
Dietary requirements, vegetarian, vegan, halal, gluten-free, kosher, are accommodated with advance notice. The galley is experienced in managing allergies. Tell us at booking and we'll brief the chef.
Chinese luxury train service operates on a higher staff-to-guest ratio than most rail experiences. The New Orient Express maintains roughly 1 staff member for every 2 guests. Service is warm rather than stiff, less European formality, more genuine hospitality. Most onboard staff speak functional English; your journey director and guides are fully bilingual.
Key service points:
Travellers who have experienced the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express or the British Pullman will notice several structural differences:
| Feature | Chinese Luxury Trains | VSOE / European |
|---|---|---|
| Suite size | 8-16 m² | 6-9 m² |
| En-suite bathroom | Standard in all suites | Shared facilities in classic cabins; private only in Grand Suites |
| Cuisine | Fresh, multi-course, regionally themed, prepared onboard | French haute cuisine, prepared onboard |
| Drinks | All premium drinks included | Included (Champagne at additional cost on some routes) |
| Altitude range | 500 to 5,072 metres | Sea level to ~1,800 metres |
| Off-train excursions | Daily, included, with English guide | Limited; some optional at extra cost |
| Inclusivity model | Genuinely all-inclusive: suite, dining, drinks, excursions, permits, transfers, domestic flights | Suite + meals + select drinks; excursions and transfers extra |
Every train in our fleet features at least one dedicated observation car or lounge. These are social spaces designed for the landscape: floor-to-ceiling windows, comfortable seating clusters, a full bar, and often a piano or live traditional music in the evenings. On the New Orient Express, the glass-walled observation car at 5,000 metres is the highest lounge in the world.
The onboard rhythm tends toward relaxed sociability rather than enforced formality. There is no dress code beyond "smart casual" at dinner. Some guests change for the evening; many do not. The atmosphere is closer to a private club than a gala dinner.
Three things we hear repeatedly from guests on their first journey:
Editorial standards: Suite dimensions and service ratios verified against operator specifications as of July 2026. Comparisons with European trains are based on published cabin dimensions and our own journey experience. If you spot anything outdated, tell us. We'll update it within 48 hours.